Advice needed - what would you do?!

[littlemissblue]

Myself and my husband are first time buyers currently renting, we decided now if the time for us to buy as we have 3 children and fed up of renting and having to move every year or so!

We saw a house 2 doors away from where we are now, which was up for sale for £425k, we looked round and loved it - same layout as ours now but new kitchen/bathroom, oak floor etc. No ensuite but flat roof to put one on (as all other houses have done on estate). We went in low but they said they needed asking price to afford the house they wanted to buy - so we managed to borrow more from my parents for deposit and offered asking price which was accepted. This was 6 weeks ago and house has sold sign up but still on rightmove as available. EA said they can't take it off market until lendors provide solicitors details which they are refusing to do?!?
Apparently the house they wanted to buy has been pulled off the market and so they are now supposedly looking again.

Last fri their EA phoned us to say another house on the estate is coming up for sale do
We want to look.. we did and it is really nice (not quite as good layout inside but nice finish, garden amazing and backs onto woods, space to extend which we would want to do, ensuite done) but its up for 435k. EA seemed keen on us going for it and said they would prob accept £425k. Why would she even show us elsewhere if she was confident first sale will go through? Unless it's so she can go back to first house lendors to say we are looking elsewhere they need to pull their finger out maybe?

Husband thinks we should give first house a week to provide solicitors details or we will go for other house, as he thinks they aren't bothered about selling now they didn't get the house they wanted - they aren't talking to the EA, don't want to look round other houses apparently...but I'm worried we will get gazumped on second house as we can only afford £425 and then miss out on both! although we are ftb with mortgage approved so more desirable I guess?

Sorry that was so long!!

Is it worth the asking? You went to 425k on house 1 because they needed that or couldn't sell. I would go in with the same initial offer you put on house 1. I actually prefer house 1 tbh... but they are messers if you get accepted on house 2 just withdraw from house 1

Alexee I'm not sure if it's worth it or not, it's the location that makes it so desirable. We can't go above £425 anyway and have made that v clear to EA so if they won't take it then we will stick it out with house 1 I guess.

I fell in love with house 1 and am struggling to feel the same about house 2 but I know it's the more sensible house - the things I love about house 1 we can put into house 2 but we can't add the quiet cul de sac, garden that you get with house 2! Head over heart!!

Had a quick look at the links.

I prefer House 2. Big driveway, at least far superior to House 1 and that would be very important to me. Unoverlooked garden and wide. Plenty of kerb appeal of what looks like a spacious house, unlike House 1. Spacious lounge unlike House 1. White windows, not dark ones. No floor plan for House 1 and rooms generally a little bit smaller.

Thanks Spickle, good to hear others opinions on the houses. I think house 2 downstairs is a little bigger but it's not so open plan. Upstairs house 1 has more spacious bedrooms, the master in house 2 is bugging me as it's so long and thin and I'm unsure how we will get all our bedroom furniture in!

House 2 hands down. That garden in house 1 is so over looked.

Get House 2 for less than you agreed for House 1 and you can make improvements to it yourselves which suit you and will increase its value. Put a porch on, etc.

Much prefer house two. I live in a similar house with similar garden and every time a neighbour who is very overlooked comes over they comment on how secluded our garden feels. The house can be improved but the plot can't. Also house 1 clearly aren't motivated and may drag their heels the whole way along... Which gets super tiresome when you have kids and just want to move! Good luck!

Also that fireplace in house one is in a very odd location?!

House No 2 for me.
You could pop a door from the garage into the hallway relatively easily with 2. Or from breakfast room to utility. Bedrooms in 2 all bar bed 3 fractionally bigger. House 2 garden is FAR nicer.
Open plan is not necessarily fun - when you get to my age and want to hold a committee meeting for example, we have nowhere to do it without restricting TV use of rest of household. So I always have to drive out to meetings!

You could always look at a few more houses?

If it has to be one of the two I’d take the second one for the better plot/garden.

Just an update we put an offer in for house 2 today and were accepted :) hopefully it will go through quickly!

Congratulations!!!

Hope it all goes thru easily and smoothly

Best of luck! I liked 2 better too!